WEBVTT FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FORMER TEACHER BUT NOT THE SCHOOL. MIKE: THE ATTORNEY WIDELY KNOWN FOR REPRESENTING VICTIMS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL HAS BEEN HIRED. SHE SPENT FOUR TERMS AS A NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE REPRESENTATIVE. TONIGHT 50-YEAR-OLD MARIE SAPIENZA IS BACK IN THE PUBLIC EYE ACCUSING HER FORMER TEACHER OF SEXUAL ABUSE.>> IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN ANY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.MIKE: SHE IS SUING ALEXANDER THOREAU FOR $20 MILLION.SHE WAS 15 YEARS OLD WHEN THE ALLEGED ASSAULT HAPPENED IN 1982. AFTERWARDS SHE SAYS THOREAU WANTED HER TO TAKE HIS CLASS, PROMISING A GOOD GRADE. >> I WAS AFRAID TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.I WOULDN'T EAT FOOD IN A RESTAURANT. I COULDN'T STAND BEING CLOSED UP IN SMALL PLACES. I LEFT THERE SUCH A MESS. MIKE: SHE CLAIMS THE SCHOOL COVERED IT UP EVEN AFTER REPORTING IT TO THE HEAD MASTER AT THE TIME.>> HE DID NOT DO HIS JOB. HE DID NOT PROTECT CHILDREN.HE DID NOT TRY TO HELP MARIE TO HEAL. MIKE: THE ACADEMY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL STUDENTS ON OUR CAMPUS TODAY. HARMS DONE TO STUDENTS IN THE PAST MUST NEVER BE REPEATED.>> I PUBLICLY THANK THOSE WHO CAME OUT SO TO SPEAK BEFORE ME BECAUSE THAT HELPED ME FEEL LIKE IT'S SAFE TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.MIKE: SAPIENZA VOLUNTARILY LEFT THE SCHOOL TWO YEARS AFTER THE ABUSE.THE SCHOOL IS NOT NAMED AS A

A former New Hampshire lawmaker said she was sexually abused by a former teacher at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

Advertisement

Fifty-year-old Marie Sapienza, who spent four terms as a New Hampshire state representative, is filing multimillion dollar federal lawsuit against the former teacher -- but not against the school.

She is suing Alexander Theroux for $20 million.

Sapienza hired Mitchell Garabedia -- the attorney widely known for representing victims in the Catholic Church clergy sex abuse scandal.

“It was difficult for me to feel comfortable in any school environment,” she said.

Sapienza was 15 years old in when the alleged assault happened in 1982. Afterwards, she said Theroux wanted her to take his class, promising her a good grade.

“I was afraid to leave the house. I wouldn't eat food in a restaurant. I couldn't stand being closed up in small spaces. I left there such a mess,” she said.

Sapienza claimed that the school covered it up, even after she reported it to the headmaster at that time.

“He did not do his job. He did not protect children. He did not … help Marie Sapienza try to heal,” Garabedian said.

The current headmaster, John Palfrey, released the following statement:

“"Our hearts go out to all those who were harmed at our school and at all schools in the past. At Andover, we are committed to learning as much as we can about our school’s past, offering support and acknowledgement for survivors of sexual misconduct, and ensuring the safety and security of all students on our campus today. The harms done to students in the past must never be repeated.”

“I publicly thank those who came out so to speak before me because that helped me feel like it's safe to talk about it again,” Sapienza said.

Sapienza voluntarily left Phillips Academy Andover about two years after the alleged abuse.

The school is not named as a defendant because the statute of limitations has run out.